According to Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 15's match against the Washington Commanders. Means has been on the injured reserve since sustaining a high-ankle sprain during Week 8. Means opened the week as a limited participant but was then downgraded to a non-participant on Thursday and remained in that fashion on Friday. After not catching a pass over the first five weeks of the season, Means flashed some potential during Weeks 6 through 8 as he averaged an 8.9 PPR point per game and averaged just under 40.0 yards per game. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Marquez Valdes-Scantling to lead the wide receiver room, with Kevin Austin and Cedrick Wilson slotting behind him. Valdes-Scantling is worth a look in deeper formats, facing a Washington secondary that has allowed the 14th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Means is currently in his 21-day practice window, which means he can practice with the team but would need to be activated from injured reserve before he can play in a game. Typically, teams are hesitant to activate players until they log multiple full practices in a row, but Means could potentially be an exception given how shorthanded the Saints are at wide receiver. If activated this week, Means would slot in as a starting receiver alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Both pass-catchers lack fantasy appeal given significant uncertainty at the quarterback position.
New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said that rookie wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) will not play in Week 14 against the New York Giants on Sunday. Rizzi said the Saints knew that Means would be limited in his first week back from Injured Reserve this week, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise that they didn't feel he was ready to return to action. The 23-year-old has been on IR since Nov. 2 due to a high-ankle sprain he suffered in the Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Means was limited in practice on Wednesday before sitting out on Thursday and Friday, so it's possible he might have even encountered a setback with his ankle. There's no guarantee Means will be back in Week 15 against the Washington Commanders, and when he does return, he could struggle to find consistent targets.
Bub Means Downgrades To Non-Participation On Thursday
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) was downgraded to a non-participant during Thursday's practice, according to John Hendrix of Saints News Network. Means was placed on the injured reserve during the first week of November due to a high-ankle sprain. The 23-year-old returned to practice on Wednesdays as a limited participant. However, seeing his status already downgraded is not a positive sign regarding his availability for this weekend. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to monitor his status on Friday, as he may be in danger of missing his fifth-straight contest. Before the injury, Means emerged as a starter in the passing attack, with both Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) on the IR. During Weeks 6 through 8, Means brought in an average of 3.0 receptions per game. If Means cannot play on Sunday, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kevin Austin will likely sit at the top of the depth chart.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) was a limited participant in his return to practice. The rookie wideout made his first appearance at practice since injuring his ankle in Week 8's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It's a step in the right direction for the 23-year-old, who has a chance to be activated from injured reserve if he can enhance his practice status over the next few days. For now, New Orleans will continue to deploy Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kevin Austin Jr., and Cedrick Wilson Jr. as their top three pass-catchers. It's unclear which of those three wideouts will have their playing time cut upon Means' return, though MVS and Austin Jr. project to be the most likely.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) and running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) have been placed on the injured reserve on Saturday. The Saints are going to be thin on depth as the injuries keep piling up on them. The absence of Means should give Marquez Valdes-Scantling more snaps, but fantasy managers shouldn't trust him as a reliable option. Miller has missed most of the season, but returned for each of the last two games. Now, Alvin Kamara should see a heavy workload with Miller out and Jamaal Williams (groin) doubtful to play. Kamara should be an elite fantasy option against the below average Carolina Panthers defense.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) has reportedly picked up a high-ankle sprain and will "miss time," per Rod Walker of The New Orleans Advocate. Ouch. It's yet another ailment afflicting a Saints' offensive player as the injuries continue to pile up for them. The amount of time he'll miss is unclear, but one has to assume it will be at least a couple of weeks before he returns to action. With quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) projected to return to practice this week, New Orleans' offense is trending positively. Still, it appears they'll be without another one of their skill players for at least a short while. Wide receivers Mason Tipton and Equanimeous St. Brown figure to pick up more snaps, while newly acquired Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be pushed into action sooner than initially anticipated.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means had three catches for 37 yards on five targets in Week 7's loss to the Denver Broncos. The rookie has seen an uptick in work over the last two weeks in the wake of a rash of injuries that hit the Saints' skill players, namely Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee). Olave looks ready to return in Week 8 but with Shaheed out for the season, it is possible that Means maintains a regular presence on the offense. Since Spencer Rattler took over under center for Derek Carr (oblique), Means has drawn the second-most targets on the team and has eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown to show for it. Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers does not invite hope for a big day but it is possible that Means and Rattler build on the chemistry they have shown over the last two weeks while LA's defense focuses on the larger threats of Olave, Alvin Kamara (hand, ribs), and Taysom Hill (ribs). Means is not worthy of starting in most leagues but in deeper PPR leagues he deserves consideration for Week 8.
It took injuries to the New Orleans Saints top two receivers, but rookie Bub Means will likely get his first NFL start on Thursday when Week 7 begins. With Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) declared out, Means has a chance to build off his impressive Week 6 performance. In that game, he tied running back Alvin Kamara for the team lead in both catches (five) and targets (eight), gaining 45 receiving yards and scoring a touchdown after taking over for Olave, who was forced out of the game on the Saints' third offensive play. Unfortunately, Means' opportunity comes against the Denver Broncos, who have held opposing wide receivers in check better than anyone else this season. Over their first six games, they have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game and just one touchdown to the position. The one glimmer of hope for Means is that Denver will be missing the elite play provided by cornerback Patrick Surtain II (concussion). Means projects as a WR5 and is a risky play in the first game of the week.
Wide receiver Bub Means scored his first touchdown as a pro in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The rookie out of Pitt snagged a ten-yard toss from fellow fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler as Means was heading out of the side of the end zone and got both feet down before his momentum carried him out of bounds. Means stepped into the game to replace Chris Olave (concussion) who left after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Saints' third play of the game. Means ended up with 45 receiving yards and tied Alvin Kamara for the team lead in targets (eight) and receptions (five). With the Saints next playing on Thursday night, it is unlikely that Olave will be ready to go which would allow Means to continue where he left off. Before fantasy managers rush to the waiver wire, consider Rattler's inconsistent performance and that New Orleans will be facing the Denver Broncos who have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.
